F/CMVSS Noncompliance - Front Safety Belt Compliance - Release of Final Phase

This campaign bulletin is being revised to include the final phase and conclude the owner mailings -- the content has not changed or been revised in any way. There will not be a revision to the paper copy.

DUE TO AVAILABILITY OF PARTS, THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE ADMINISTERED IN TWO PHASES. ENCLOSED IS THE DEALER LISTING FOR INVOLVED VEHICLES IN THE FINAL PHASE. ANY DEALER NOT RECEIVING A DEALER LISTING HAS NO INVOLVED VEHICLES CURRENTLY ASSIGNED.

General Motors has decided that certain 1999-2000 Chevrolet and GMC C/K pickup trucks fail to conform to Federal/Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies." Some of these vehicles have front belt retractors that have higher G-force lock up levels than those required by the safety standard. In addition, some retractors could have internal damage that could cause a "no-lock" condition. If a vehicle with these noncompliant safety belts were in an accident, increased occupant injury could occur.

Dealers are to replace the driver and passenger seat belt retractors.

Involved are certain 1999-2000 Chevrolet and GMC C/K pickup trucks built within these VIN breakpoints:

Important: Dealers should confirm vehicle eligibility through GMVIS (GM Vehicle Inquiry System) or GM Access Screen (Canada only) or DCS Screen 445 (IPC only) before beginning campaign repairs. [Not all vehicles within the above breakpoints may be involved.]

Involved vehicles have been identified by Vehicle Identification Number. Computer listings containing the complete Vehicle Identification Number, customer name and address data have been prepared, and are being furnished to involved dealers with the campaign bulletin. The customer name and address data furnished will enable dealers to follow-up with customers involved in this campaign. Any dealer not receiving a computer listing with the campaign bulletin has no involved vehicles currently assigned.

These dealer listings may contain customer names and addresses obtained from Motor Vehicle Registration Records. The use of such motor vehicle registration data for any other purpose is a violation of law in several states/provinces/countries. Accordingly, you are urged to limit the use of this listing to the follow-up necessary to complete this campaign.

Parts required to complete this campaign are to be obtained from General Motors Service Parts Operations (GMSPO). Please refer to your "involved vehicles listing" before ordering parts. Normal orders should be placed on a DRO = Daily Replenishment Order. In an emergency situation, parts should be ordered on a CSO = Customer Special Order.

Important: For additional information, see the Seats and Seat Belt subsections in the Body and Accessories section of the appropriate Service Manual.

Important: Do not remove the seats from the vehicle when performing the following procedure.

Important: Do not remove the two headrest retainers from the top of the seat back.

1. Remove the headrest from the seat assembly.
2. Move the seat to the full forward position.



3. Remove the screw attaching the recliner lever (1) and remove the lever.
4. On extended cab models equipped with the easy entry seat feature (2), remove the screw attaching the entry lever to remove the lever.
5. Remove the screws attaching the side trim panel (3) and remove the panel.
6. Reinstall the recliner lever (1) on the shaft. Do not install the attaching screw.



7. Remove the nut that attaches the seat belt to the seat cushion frame. Route the belt webbing material through the opening in the seat cushion.
8. Using the recliner lever, tilt the seat back forward and release the J-strip fastener on the bottom of the seat back cover.



9. Unsnap the seat belt bezel from the retractor tower.






Important: The retaining spring clip in the next step is similar to those used to attach manual window crank handles. Do not remove the clip completely to remove the armrest. To avoid the possibility of losing the clip, reinstall the clip immediately after removing the armrest.

10. On vehicles equipped with bucket seats, remove the armrest by accessing and releasing the retaining spring clip from the bottom of the seat back cushion cover.



11. From the bottom of the seat back, place your hand up the front side of the seat back cover and release the hook and loop fasteners that attach the seat back cover to the foam pad.

Important: The headrest retainers will prevent the cover from being completely removed from the seat back.

12. Starting at the bottom of the seat back, pull the seat back cover upwards. The bottom of the cover should be turning inside out as the cover rolls upward.
13. Continue pulling the cover upwards until it reaches the top of the seat back.
14. Pull the seat belt webbing material through the opening in the seat cover.



15. Release the adhesive between the foam pad and the seat back frame on both the left and right sides of the seat back. This will expose the push-in fasteners that attach the cardboard. Remove the push-in fasteners and reposition the cardboard. Do not remove the cardboard.



16. Remove the bolt attaching the retractor to the lower seat back.



17. Remove the retractor tower cover retaining screws and remove the tower cover.



18. Remove the anchor bolt that attaches the retractor to the upper seat back frame.
19. Route the belt webbing material through the seat cover opening and remove the retractor assembly from the seat.
20. Install the new retractor to the seat assembly.
21. Install the anchor bolt that attaches the retractor to the upper seat back frame.

Tighten
Tighten the anchor bolt to 53 N·m (39 lb ft).

22. Install the retractor tower cover and retaining screws.

Tighten
Tighten the screws to 2 N·m (18 lb in).

23. Install the bolt that attaches the retractor to the lower seat back.

Tighten
Tighten the bolt to 53 N·m (39 lb ft).

24. Reposition the foam pad and cardboard in their original positions.
25. Route the seat belt webbing material through the seat cover opening.

Important: When reinstalling the seat back cover in the next step, verify that the plastic clips on the inboard side of the seat align and snap onto the metal frame rod. Additionally, verify that the pleats in the seat cover attach correctly to the foam cushion with the hook and loop fasteners.

26. Install the seat back cover and attach the J-strip at the bottom of the cover.
27. Route the seat belt through the opening in the seat cushion and install the seat belt to the seat cushion frame. Install the retaining nut.

Tighten
Tighten the retaining nut to 53 N·m (39 lb ft).

28. Install the seat belt bezel to the retractor tower.
29. Inspect for the proper seat belt retractor operation.
30. On vehicles equipped with bucket seats, install the armrest to the seat and press inwards until the armrest is retained by the spring clip that was reinstalled in Step 10.
31. Remove the recliner lever and install the side trim panel. Install the screws.

Tighten
Tighten the screws to 2 N·m (18 lb in).

32. Install the recliner lever and the retaining screw.

Tighten
Tighten the screw to 2 N·m (18 lb in).

33. On vehicles equipped with the easy entry seat feature, install the entry lever and retaining screw.

Tighten
Tighten the screw to 2 N·m (18 lb in).

34. Install the headrest to the seat back.
35. Install the GM Campaign Identification Label.

FOR US AND IPC

Place a Campaign Identification Label on each vehicle in accordance with the instructions outlined in this Product Campaign Bulletin. Each label provides a space to include the campaign number and the five (5) digit dealer code of the dealer performing the campaign service. This information may be inserted with a typewriter or a ball point pen.

Put the Campaign Identification Label on a clean and dry surface of the radiator core support in an area that will be visible to people servicing the vehicle. When installing the Campaign Identification Label, be sure to pull the tab to allow the adhesion of the clear protective covering. Additional Campaign Identification Labels for US dealers can be obtained from Dealer Support Materials by calling 1-888-549-6152 (Monday-Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm EST). Ask for Item Number S-1015 when ordering.

Additional Campaign Identification Labels for IPC dealers can be obtained from your Regional Marketing Office.

FOR CANADA

Place a Campaign Identification Label on each vehicle in accordance with the instructions outlined in this Product Campaign Bulletin. Each label provides a space to include the campaign number and the five (5) digit dealer code of the dealer performing the campaign service. This information may be inserted with a typewriter or a ball point pen.

Put the Campaign Identification Label on a clean and dry surface of the radiator core support in an area that will be visible to people servicing the vehicle. Additional Campaign Identification Labels for Canadian dealers can be obtained from DGN by calling 1-800-668-5539 (Monday-Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm EST). Ask for Item Number GMP 91 when ordering.

Submit a Product Campaign Claim with the information indicated below:

Refer to the General Motors WINS Claim Processing Manual for details on Product Campaign Claim Submission.

FOR US AND CANADA

Customers will be notified of this campaign on their vehicles by General Motors (see copy of customer letter included with this bulletin).

FOR IPC

Letters will be sent to known owners of record located within areas covered by the US National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. For owners outside these areas, dealers should notify customers using the attached suggested dealer letter.

FOR US AND IPC (US States, Territories, and Possessions)

The US National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act provides that each vehicle that is subject to a recall campaign of this type must be adequately repaired within a reasonable time after the customer has tendered it for repair. A failure to repair within sixty days after tender of a vehicle is prima facie evidence of failure to repair within a reasonable time. If the condition is not adequately repaired within a reasonable time, the customer may be entitled to an identical or reasonably equivalent vehicle at no charge or to a refund of the purchase price less a reasonable allowance for depreciation. To avoid having these burdensome remedies, every effort must be made to promptly schedule an appointment with each customer and to repair their vehicle as soon as possible. In the recall campaign notification letters, customers are told how to contact the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration if the campaign is not completed within a reasonable time.

This bulletin is notice to you that the new motor vehicles included in this campaign may not comply with the standard identified above. Under Title 49, Section 30112 of the United States Code, it is illegal for a dealer to sell a new motor vehicle which the dealer knows does not comply with an applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard. As a consequence, if you sell any of these motor vehicles without first performing the campaign correction, your dealership may be subject to a civil penalty for each such sale.

ALL

All unsold new vehicles in dealers' possession and subject to this campaign MUST be held and inspected/repaired per the service procedure of this campaign bulletin BEFORE customers take possession of these vehicles.

Dealers are to service all vehicles subject to this campaign at no charge to customers, regardless of mileage, age of vehicle, or ownership, from this time forward.

Customers who have recently purchased vehicles sold from your vehicle inventory, and for which there is no customer information indicated on the dealer listing, are to be contacted by the dealer. Arrangements are to be made to make the required correction according to the instructions contained in this bulletin. This could be done by mailing to such customers a copy of the customer letter accompanying this bulletin. Campaign follow-up cards should not be used for this purpose, since the customer may not as yet have received the notification letter.

In summary, whenever a vehicle subject to this campaign enters your vehicle inventory, or is in your dealership for service in the future, please take the steps necessary to be sure the campaign correction has been made before selling or releasing the vehicle.

Suggested Dealer Letter

General Motors has decided that certain 1999 and 2000 Chevrolet Silverado pickup trucks and GMC Sierra pickup trucks fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies." Some of these vehicles have front belt retractors that have higher G-force lock up levels than those required by the safety standard. In addition, some retractors could have internal damage that could cause a "no-lock" condition. If a vehicle with these noncompliant safety belts were in an accident, increased occupant injury could occur.

We will replace the driver and passenger seat belt retractor. This service will be performed for you at no charge.

Please contact us as soon as possible to arrange a service date.

We sincerely regret any inconvenience this causes you; however, we have taken this action in the interest of your continued satisfaction with our products.

GMODC

General Motors Corporation

Dear Chevrolet/GMC Customer:

This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

General Motors has decided that certain 1999 and 2000 Chevrolet Silverado pickup trucks and GMC Sierra pickup trucks fail to conform to Federal/Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies." Some of these vehicles have front belt retractors that have higher G-force lock up levels than those required by the safety standard. In addition, some retractors could have internal damage that could cause a "no-lock" condition. If a vehicle with these noncompliant safety belts were in an accident, increased occupant injury could occur.

Your Chevrolet/GMC dealer will replace the driver and passenger seat belt retractor. This service will be performed for you at no charge .

The length of time required to perform this service correction is approximately one hour. Additional time may be required to schedule and process your vehicle. If you dealer has a large number of vehicles awaiting service, this additional time may be significant. Please ask your dealer if you wish to know how much additional time will be needed schedule, process, and repair your vehicle.

Please contact your Chevrolet/GMC dealer as soon as possible to arrange a service date. Parts are available and instructions for making this correction have been sent to your dealer.

Your Chevrolet/GMC dealer is best equipped to obtain parts and provide services to correct your vehicle as promptly as possible. Should your dealer be unable to schedule a service date within a reasonable time, you should contact the appropriate Customer Assistance/Relations Center at the number listed below:

If, after contacting the appropriate customer assistance center, you are still not satisfied that we have done our best to remedy this condition without charge and within a reasonable time, you may wish to write the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh Street SW, Washington, DC 20590 or call 1-800-424-9393 (Washington, DC residents use 202-366-0123).

The attached customer reply card identifies your vehicle. Presentation of this card to your dealer will assist in making the necessary correction in the shortest possible time. If you no longer own this vehicle, please let us know by completing the attached and mailing it in the postage paid envelope.

We are sorry to cause you this inconvenience; however, we have taken this action in the interest of your safety and continued satisfaction with our products.

Chevrolet/Pontiac-GMC Division

General Motors Corporation

Enclosure